Designed in 2017 by AKB Architects, this beautiful two-story boathouse is situated on Tobin?s Island in Muskoka Lakes, Ontario.

Description by AKB Architects
Set amid a myriad of seasonal cottages, Lake Rosseau Boathouse is a 2 storey wood clad building and dock situated on Tobin?s Island in Muskoka Lakes, Ontario. Comprising of 2 bedrooms, bath, living area and 3 slip boat storage at water level, this 2300 s.f. lakefront structure serves the adjacent cottage as a guest residence offering an unobstructed panoramic view to the lake and shoreline beyond.

The architect was tasked to design an elegant, durable, and eco-friendly structure that would blend with the rugged natural surroundings while also expressing the use of all-natural materials. Keeping in mind that all construction products had to be brought over by boat to the island, the light weight nature and modularity of western cedar was a key factor in its selection and became the prime material of the overall construction. Our first choice was to select a durable lightweight exterior siding material that could contend with the harsh seasonal climates without having to rely on paints or stains. AKB selected a charred cedar wood siding (shou sugi ban) from a supplier (South Parry Lumber) in the region who just started producing the product. The intrinsic properties of this type of cedar siding and the ancient Japanese technique of surface charring the wood informed the overall design. The charring creates...